Development and evaluation of an immunochromatography-based point-of-care test kit for a rapid diagnosis of human cysticercosis

Lakkhana Sadaow; Patcharaporn Boonroumkaew; Rutchanee Rodpai; Penchom Janwan; Oranuch Sanpool; Tongjit Thanchomnang; Yasuyuki Morishima; Marcello Otake Sato; Yasuhito Sako; Kaoru Kobayashi; Misako Iwai; Wanchai Maleewong; Hiroshi Yamasaki; Pewpan M Intapan

doi:10.1016/j.fawpar.2023.e00211

Development and evaluation of an immunochromatography-based point-of-care test kit for a rapid diagnosis of human cysticercosis

Food Waterborne Parasitol. 2023 Oct 9:33:e00211. doi: 10.1016/j.fawpar.2023.e00211. eCollection 2023 Dec.

Authors

Lakkhana Sadaow^{1

2}, Patcharaporn Boonroumkaew^{1

2}, Rutchanee Rodpai^{1

2}, Penchom Janwan^{1

3}, Oranuch Sanpool^{1

2}, Tongjit Thanchomnang^{1

4}, Yasuyuki Morishima⁵, Marcello Otake Sato⁶, Yasuhito Sako⁷, Kaoru Kobayashi⁸, Misako Iwai⁸, Wanchai Maleewong^{1

2}, Hiroshi Yamasaki⁵, Pewpan M Intapan^{1

2}

Affiliations

¹ Mekong Health Science Research Institute, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen 40002, Thailand.
² Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen 40002, Thailand.
³ Department of Medical Technology, School of Allied Health Sciences, Walailak University, Nakhon Si Thammarat 80161, Thailand.
⁴ Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Mahasarakham University, Maha Sarakham 44000, Thailand.
⁵ Department of Parasitology, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Tokyo 162-8640, Japan.
⁶ Division of Global Environment Parasitology, Faculty of Medical Technology, Niigata University of Pharmacy and Medical and Life Sciences, Niigata 956-8603, Japan.
⁷ Division of Parasitology, Department of Infectious Diseases, Asahikawa Medical University, Asahikawa 078-8510, Japan.
⁸ Division of Planning and Development, Adtec Inc., Oita 879-0453, Japan.

Abstract

Human cysticercosis is a life-threatening zoonotic disease caused by infection with larvae (cysticerci) of the pork tapeworm, Taenia solium. This can affect the nervous system causing chronic headache and intracranial hypertension, potentially leading to epileptic seizures and paralysis. The disease is found in developing countries, especially in Southeast and South Asia, Sub-Saharan Africa, and Central and South America where porcine cysticercosis is endemic and people have a habit of eating undercooked pork. An immunochromatography-based test (ICT) kit, using T. solium cyst fluid as antigen, was manufactured to detect anti-T. solium IgG antibodies in human serum. To evaluate the kit, we used 187 serum samples including 24 from proven/confirmed cysticercosis cases, 133 from cases with other parasitosis and 30 healthy controls. Diagnostic efficiencies were calculated. The sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy were 83.3%, 92.0%, and 90.9%, respectively. Moreover, the ICT was positive before treatment but became negative after treatment, implying that this kit is also useful for follow-up monitoring post-treatment. In conclusion, we have successfully developed and present preliminary evaluation of an easy-to-handle rapid diagnostic tool for human cysticercosis in the form of an ICT platform using as antigen fluid from T. solium cysticerci.

Keywords: A point-of-care test; Antibody detection; Diagnostics; Human cysticercosis; Immunochromatography; Taenia solium.